Twenty minutes into Saturday’s second match of the Dessert Diamond Cup against the New England Revolution, it appeared as though Chivas USA would take a big hit in their title match run hopes.

In a span of 10 minutes beginning in the 11th, the Revs took a two-goal advantage and were in control of the contest. Midfielder Lee Nguyen’s free kick from about 20 yards out got the Revs on the board first and Teal Bunbury’s tally in the 20th minute doubled the Eastern Conference side’s lead. After Saturday’s earlier match results by the Chicago Fire and Colorado Rapids, the Red-and-White were in need of a victory to keep their title hopes alive.

However, in the 25th minute, second-year striker Erick “Cubo” Torres cut the deficit in half with his first goal of preseason. The 21-year-old unleashed a line drive volley near the short area off a deflected cross, which proved to be the spark the Goats needed to mount a 3-2 comeback thanks to three unanswered scores.

“Very happy with the effort from the team, how the team went from nothing to something,” Torres said after the match. “We never gave up, and I think the most commendable part is the team’s attitude to come away with the win.

“It was a ball in the air, I stayed confident, hit it first-time and cornered it. I’m happy, because it’s important to continue scoring goals, to continue with that confidence and we need to stay on the road we’re on.”

After the Guadalajara native’s score, the Goats began to generate more run of play in their attacking third, as they renewed the action in the second half still looking to equalize.

Midfielder Carlos Alvarez came on as a sub to start the second half and for the second time in the tournament, delivered an equalizer for Chivas in the 54th minute. The Red-and-White continued getting into the final third in search of their first lead of the contest, which came in the form of Mauro Rosales’ brilliant free kick from outside the left edge of the box.

Torres also credited Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera for keeping the team focused at half time on the challenge at hand to attempt the comeback. Once Torres brought the Goats within one, the lead no longer looked so insurmountable.

“I think the effort that Wilmer does is very important for us, the mentality that he instilled in us to come back out to the pitch in the second half. It’s hard to be down two-zero and comeback. The effort on the part of the coaching staff and players to turn the match around is really commendable.”

The victory now sets up a match on Wednesday between Chivas and the Rapids for a potential berth in the March 1 title match against the Fire, who clinched their place in the Final after a 2-0 shutout over host FC Tucson.